Masculine Warriors
taking on mediocrity..
My draft title of this journal was Nuanced Institute then I finally settled with Khakis & leather. The name “Khakis & leather”, screamed LETS FUCKING GO! and I acquiesced without question. It is a title that reminds me of Nigeria and one that portrays strength and agility. I have to admit my admiration for traits emanating from being in the military. The organizational structure, the discipline, the clothing and the comradery. Not a surprise that I am of the position that life is a battle between good and evil as I think we should all be equipped as gallant soldiers ready to take on the enemy!
We should, implies that we are not there at the moment. We were once warriors but we have been watered down as compliant citizens and workers/laborers slaving for paper money. Our society and popular opinion is directing people to ideas and ideals that are increasingly worrying. I suspect many people are sensing this and are seeking a solution for a way out. Hence, the proliferation of self help gurus and motivational books.
Many people have been diagnosed with clinical depression and are under another form of subjugation through the medical/pharmaceutical industry. We have been drugged out, stuffed with unhealthy food, addicted to porn, controlled by our devices for our attention, worshiping celebrity while aiming for social status with blue checks and the rest.
We seem not to be striving for anything of value, we are increasingly lackadaisical and mundane in our patterns and character. We have declined in our communication with a meme culture, in popular music through mumble rap and now we cover our mouths so no one can hear us. All to virtue signal our relevance and complicity. Referencing my last weeks article, the calling, we have become weak and feeble minded. It would not be a hard task to take over earth by another creature. Even a virus has successfully managed to control our day to day lives!
The ideal warrior is brave, confident, direct, a leader, disciplined, stoic when faced with hardship, resilient, loyal, dedicated to his craft and, his service before self (I must add all these were previously seen as masculine traits). Also, I suspect many would agree that all these traits are requirements to be successful at any given career or profession. If we are all supposedly dedicated to our careers, how come these traits aren’t coming up in our time of need? I would argue that schools, work places, have only worked to suppress these instincts and many people acquiesce just to “earn a living”. Many follow the herd and comply, many times to their own detriment.
Why are these masculine traits seem to be on the decline in the west? Is it porn? Is it the proliferation of feminists? Is it the embrace of a “one size fits all” approach to judge all men? How did our society get to the point that warrior traits are seen as toxic? Are the same toxic traits not also espoused by some women? So why is the toxic label used for one and not the other?
This topic is a deep one that deserves more time to address. These and many more questions arise when contemplating the decline of masculinity in our society. This is a topic that demands a nuanced approach in order to confront the many layers embedded within.
See you tomorrow!
- Ope